Evocation (Head of Christ or Inspiration from a Mosaic in Ravenna) 

Editor: Here we have "Evocation (Head of Christ or Inspiration from a Mosaic in Ravenna)" by Odilon Redon, done in oil paint. I'm really struck by the sort of dreamlike quality of it – the colours are so ethereal and muted, yet vivid. It feels almost like a fading memory. What jumps out at you when you look at this piece? Curator: Oh, this one sings to my soul. I see a beautiful dance between the earthly and the divine, doesn’t it? Redon’s Christ isn’t a booming, wrathful figure, but rather a tender emanation, eyes closed, serene, floating in this liminal space. Does that electric blue juxtaposed with the muted browns and yellows suggest a kind of spiritual energy to you? It’s not just an image; it’s an invocation, an appeal to the beyond. What does the context evoke for you? Editor: That's interesting, that contrast hadn't fully clicked. The evocation of that serene divine floating on a rough blue sky is what touches me most. Ravenna, also adds this aura of Byzantine antiquity to it, almost fading. I see more depth to the composition, now. I get how the artist summons up images. Curator: Absolutely! The “Evocation” hints to the spiritual calling by the artistic self through dreams, right? So, where does it takes us, in your view? Editor: To a reflective journey into the artistic interpretation of faith. Thanks! I feel like I understand the soul of Redon, at least a little bit better, now. Curator: Precisely, a mirror reflecting the beauty and the struggle to capture the divine within the human experience! A fascinating, beautiful piece indeed.